Speaker calibration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9690271-B2
Application number	US-201514696014-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2015
Priority date	Jun 28, 2012
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

An example implementation may involve a control device displaying (i) a prompt to prepare a playback device for calibration within a given environment, (ii) a prompt to prepare the given environment for calibration of the playback device, and (iii) a prompt to prepare the control device for calibration of the playback device. The example implementation may also involve a control device displaying a selectable control, that, when selected, initiates calibration of the playback device. The example implementation may further involve a control device initiating calibration of the playback device.

First claim

We claim:

1. Tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a control device to perform operations comprising:
displaying (i) a prompt to prepare a playback device for calibration within a given environment, (ii) a prompt to prepare the given environment for calibration of the playback device, and (iii) a prompt to prepare the control device for calibration of the playback device, wherein displaying the prompt to prepare the playback device for calibration comprises displaying a prompt to orient the playback device in a particular manner at a location within the given environment at which the playback device is to be operated;
upon detecting input data indicating that (i) the playback device is prepared for calibration, (ii) the given environment is prepared for calibration of the playback device, and (iii) the control device is prepared for calibration of the playback device, displaying a selectable control, that, when selected, initiates calibration of the playback device, wherein detecting input data indicating that the playback device is prepared for calibration comprises receiving, via a user interface, input data indicating that the playback device is oriented in the particular manner at the location within the given environment at which the playback device is to be operated; and
upon detecting input data indicating a selection of the selectable control, initiating calibration of the playback device.

2. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein initiating calibration of the playback device comprises:
transmitting a command that instructs the playback device to emit one or more pre-determined calibration sounds; and
listening, via a microphone, for the one or more pre-determined calibration sounds.

3. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 2 , wherein the operations further comprise displaying a prompt to move the control device within the given environment for a given time.

4. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 3 , wherein displaying the prompt to move the control device within the given environment for the given time comprises displaying a prompt to move the control device within the given environment until the playback device stops emitting the one or more pre-determined calibration sounds.

5. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein displaying the prompt to orient the playback device in a particular manner at the location within the given environment at which the playback device is to be operated comprises displaying a graphical instruction indicating an example playback device oriented in the particular manner.

6. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein displaying the prompt to orient the playback device in a particular manner at a location within the given environment at which the playback device is to be operated comprises displaying a prompt to orient the playback device in a direction in which the playback device is to be operated.

7. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein displaying the prompt to prepare the given environment for calibration of the playback device further comprises displaying a prompt to reduce ambient noise of the given environment.

8. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining that a level of ambient noise within the given environment is below a threshold level for calibration; and
displaying an indication that the ambient noise within the given environment is acceptable for calibration.

9. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein displaying the indication that the ambient noise of the given environment is acceptable for calibration comprises displaying a volume meter indicating the level of ambient noise within the given environment, wherein the volume meter is divided into an acceptable range for calibration and an unacceptable range for calibration.

10. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein displaying the prompt to prepare the control device for calibration of the playback device comprises displaying a prompt to rotate the control device.

11. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , displaying the prompt to prepare the control device for calibration of the playback device comprises displaying a prompt that is rotated 180 degrees relative to the prompt to prepare a playback device for calibration within the given environment.

12. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein displaying the prompt to prepare the control device for calibration of the playback device comprises displaying an upside down prompt indicating a position in which to hold the control device such that a microphone of the control device is oriented upwards.

13. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein displaying the prompt to prepare the control device for calibration of the playback device comprises displaying a prompt to remove any removable cases that have been installed on the control device.

14. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
prior to displaying the selectable control, displaying a video that depicts how to move the control device within the given environment during calibration.

15. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
prior to displaying the selectable control, displaying an animation that depicts how to move the control device within the given environment during calibration.

16. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
during calibration of the playback device, detecting that the control device is stationary within the given environment; and
upon detecting that the control device is stationary within the given environment, displaying a prompt that includes a reminder to move the control device within the given environment during calibration.

17. The tangible, computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining that access to a microphone of the control device is prohibited by an operating system of the control device; and
prior to displaying the selectable control, displaying instructions to grant access to the microphone of the control device.

18. A method comprising:
displaying, via a control device, a series of prompts, wherein displaying the series of prompts comprises displaying (i) a prompt to prepare a playback device for calibration within a given environment, (ii) a prompt to prepare the given environment for calibration of the playback device, and (iii) a prompt to prepare the control device for calibration of the playback device, wherein displaying the prompt to prepare the playback device for calibration comprises displaying a prompt to orient the playback device in a particular manner at a location within the given environment at which the playback device is to be operated;
upon detecting input data indicating that (i) the playback device is prepared for calibration, (ii) the given environment is prepared for calibration of the playback device, and (iii) the control device is prepared for calibration of the playback device, displaying a selectable control, that, when selected, initiates calibration of the playback device, wherein detecting input data indicating that the playback device is prepared for calibration comprises receiving via a user interface, an input indicating that the playback device is oriented

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Sheen Timothy
• Wilberding Dayn

Classifications

• G06F3/165 Primary

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• H04S7/301

  Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone · CPC title

• G05B15/02 Primary

  electric · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

  Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use · CPC title